Planting phals in S/H 101

[tinabee]

Here is how I was able to make growing phals in S/H work for me. I went through a lot of trial and error, lost quite a few plants along the way and finally found a method that works for me. I'm hoping this helps you out. Please keep in mind, your results may vary because of climate, humidity, etc.

GROWING CONDITIONS:

My phals are in an east facing screened in porch where they get a good amount of sun for about 2 hours each day then see shade the rest of the day.

Temps where I live range from 65-95 degrees F. Humidity ranges from 45%-over 80% during the Spring, Summer and Fall.

I have a large stand up fan circulating air on my phals at all times.

Phals are on tables raised above the floor about 3 feet.

Most of my phals are planted in the two staged semi hydroponic pots with water gauge and Prime Agra/Hydroton. I have one very large phal planted in one of FirstRays single staged pots, but I poked holes at the bottom of it and put it in a glass saucer. I use the glass saucer as my reservoir pot.


FEEDING:

In one gallon of municipal water at a pH of about 8.3:

1/2 teaspoon of Pond Care pH Down.

1 teaspoon of Better Gro Orchid Plus 20-14-13(NOTE: Ray has since told me to cut it down to 1/2 teaspoon that way the Nitrogen is 125 ppm)
About 5-6 drops of Superthrive.

When I water the plants, I take the inside pot out and flush the media really well all over with the above solution. Then I set the inside pot back in the reservoir pot and fill with solution until the water gauge indicator floats to the middle and/or the reservoir pot is filled 1/8th of the way full.

The very large phal I water when the inside of the glass dish I use for the reservoir is dry. I flush the media thoroughly with fresh nutrient solution, place it back in the reservoir dish then fill the reservoir dish with fresh nutrient solution until it covers over the two side drain holes.

I check each morning to see how dry the reservoir pots are getting. Once the reservoir pot is completely dry, I rewater.

The below photo shows how nicely this phal recovered in only four months and how it is thriving. This phal just kind of languished in bark, doing nothing special. Leaves were a bit wrinkly and the roots were pretty wimpy. Now it is a very strong and healthy plant. All of my other phals that weren't doing so hot in bark and sphag are now putting out beautiful thick green roots, almost the thickness of a pencil in some cases and new leaves are coming out of the crowns.

I hope this helps some of you who have had issues with phals in S/H in the past. I have tried the single staged pots here in FL and they just don't work for me. With the two staged pots I get the airflow I need and the plants are clearly happy with this environment.

[orchids4me]

Interesting thread : ). And would make an interesting growing project too.
Thanks for posting this thread
Emmaye

[tinabee]

In my case it was an experiment that really worked. I hope you have fun with it!

[Phoenixdawn]

What happens to the watering programme if you need to go away? Do you have a strategy - or someone you've trained how to keep them going for you?

[dillon935]

Well done tinabee. I started the same project last month (not with all of your nutrients thought) on two phals as like you my phals are not thriving in bark. I'd be interested to see if mine become as happy as yours are; good growing.

[tinabee]

When I go away on vacation, I make sure all of my plants are rewatered to the proper level, even if they aren't due for rewatering. No problems. And a couple of extra days where they are a little dry won't hurt them if your trip for some reason is delayed. However if you are going to be gone more than a week, then you will need to have someone watch your plants.

[Ray]

Depending upon how often you feed, that might be a bit strong on the fertilizer. I'd recommend about half of a teaspoon of a 20%N formula per gallon.

[tinabee]

I feed each time I water which is once every week to 10 days. The funny thing is, when I used the calculator on your website, the total dissolved solids concentration value I ended up with was within range.

[Ray]

What range? I recommend 125 ppm N +/- 25, and 1 teaspoon per gallon of a 20% fertilizer will give you about 250.

[tinabee]

Here is the information I found on your website, Ray. If I'm wrong or confused, please explain:

Different plants have different nutritional demand. Vandas, for example, are notorious as "heavy feeders" while phragmipediums are far less so. Researchers at Texas A&M found that in their greenhouses, phalaenopsis grow and bloom the best when fed about 200-250 ppm N from a complete fertilizer. The growing conditions in College Station are better than they are for me here in southeastern Pennsylvania, so I can probably do with less food to go with the lower growth rate.

[Ray]

Well yeah, but that's

1) in greenhouses in College Station TX,
2) in bark, not S/H,
3) allowed to mostly dry between waterings,
4) probably flushed between feedings,
5) and I have no idea how frequently they feed that rate.

For a plant in semi-hydroponics, where it will stay constantly moist and fed, lower is better.

[tinabee]

Oh, boy....I was being a little overzealous.

Time to go edit my instructions.......

[HotPot]

I put my Phalinopsis in Hydroton and in a plastic pot with a few holes made in the side 2cm up from the bottom, I would let this get soaked up and then refill only then. My Phal had been fine growing in wood chippings but the wood was breaking down and would have needed replacing anyway - hence a good time to change - I thought. The Plant never seemed to like the Hydroton and it just wasted away and died. I was left wondering if it was too wet not wet enough or If I should have mixed in some other media.

[Ray]

HotPot - plants have to grow new roots that can function well in the new environment. If your plant was not actively growing new roots (not new growth on existing roots), or if your temperature was cool enough it slowed that process, the plant was destined to fail.

[HotPot]

It was in active growth and did put a couple of new roots down to the bottom of the pot but for some reason it never looked as healthy and just slowly gave up - I even tried to pamper it to make it regain some vigor by putting a heat mat under it. I guess it was partly my inexperience as I couldnt tell what I should do - keep it a bit wetter or was it too wet - should I have added some spaghnum to the mix etc. Over time the roots it had either schrivelled up or rotted!